Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 8, 2021 Canada’s Denis Shapovalov celebrates winning a set during his first round match against Italy’s Jannik Sinner REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 8, 2021 Canada’s Denis Shapovalov celebrates winning a set during his first round match against Italy’s Jannik Sinner REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Canada’s Denis Shapovalov took on Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner in the opening round match of the Australian Open. In the first meeting between the two talents, Shapovalov won the match in five intense sets, 3-6 6-3 6-2 4-6 6-4. At 12:40 am local time, the pair was still engaged in the intense battle on the court.
As the match began, Sinner took the early lead by breaking Shapovalov’s serve in the early stages of the match. The Italian quickly raced to a 3-0 lead. After 30 minutes on the clock, Jannik was a step away from taking the opening set at 5-2.
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In the next game, the 19-year-old player was in a tricky situation being 15-30 down, but he held his nerve and sealed the opening set 6-3. Shapovalov’s poor second serve and the number of unforced errors proved costly.
Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 8, 2021, Italy’s Jannik Sinner in action during his first-round match against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Denis Shapovalov Gets the Break Against Jannik Sinner in the Eighth Game
At the beginning of the second set, the Canadian youngster held his opening service game after thirteen arduous minutes, registering two double faults. As the match crossed the hour mark, both Denis and Jannik were engaging in a powerful exchange of rallies.
In the eighth game of the set, Shapovalov got the break and was serving for the set at 5-3. After close to an hour, the Canadian sealed the set 6-3.
Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 8, 2021, Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in action during his first-round match against Italy’s Jannik Sinner REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
The Italian began serving in the third set. Both players were serving fairly well until the fifth game of the third set. Denis handed his opponent the break and consolidated it by holding his serve, to take firm control of the set at 4-2. In the next game, the Canadian delivered the second break and crossed the final hurdle, winning the set 6-2.
When the clock strikes midnight 🕰@janniksin steals the fourth set against Denis Shapovalov, 6-4 to take it to a fifth set decider.#AO2021 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/pDaRuBcPpJ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 8, 2021
Jannik Sinner Fights Back to Take the Match Into the Final Set
Similar to the previous set, Sinner began serving in the fourth. In the third game of the set, Shapovalov stepped up the intensity and got an early break, making it 2-1 on serve. However, Sinner leveled the match after getting the break in the sixth game, thus making it three games each. He continued to build on the momentum and broke Denis to send the match into the deciding set.
In the opening game of the final set, Shapovalov got the early break and consolidated it, taking a 2-0 lead. After 3 hours and 55 minutes, Denis won the set 6-4 and subsequently the match.
The look of someone who breaks in the opening game of the deciding set 👊@denis_shapo | #AO2021 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/3qnMTVocOK
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 8, 2021
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